Anti-Müllerian hormone in managed African and Asian rhino species

• Published in: General and comparative endocrinology 2020-08, Vol.294, p.113487-113487, Article 113487
• Main Authors: Pollock, K.E., O'Brien, J.K., Roth, T.L., Proudfoot, J., Niederlander, J., Micheas, L., Robeck, T.R., Stoops, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Africa; Age; Aging - physiology; AMH; Animals; Anti-Mullerian Hormone - blood; Anti-Mullerian Hormone - metabolism; Anti-Müllerian hormone; Asia; Estrous Cycle - physiology; Female; Immunization; Male; Perissodactyla - blood; Perissodactyla - metabolism; Porcine zona pellucida; pZP; Reproduction - physiology; Rhinoceros; Species Specificity
• ISSN: 0016-6480; 1095-6840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113487

•Serum AMH measurement was validated in managed African and Asian rhino species.•Male rhinos produce higher AMH concentrations compared to females.•Female white rhinos secrete lower AMH than female black, greater one-horned and Sumatran rhinos. Serum collected across the lifespan of four managed rhino species: black (Diceros bicornis, n = 16), white (Ceratotherium simum simum, n = 19), greater one-horned (GOH, Rhinoceros unicornis, n = 11) and Sumatran (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, n = 6) were validated and analyzed in an anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) enzyme- linked immunoassay. Concentrations of AMH were examined over time, between sexes and throughout different reproductive states which included n = 3 female white rhinos immunocontracepted with porcine zona pellucida (pZP). Across species, males produced higher AMH concentrations compared to females. Among males, AMH concentrations varied by species aside from comparable values secreted between black and white rhinos. The GOH and Sumatran rhino secreted the highest and lowest male AMH concentrations, respectively. However, within each species, AMH concentrations were similar across male age categories. Preliminary insight into male AMH changes from birth to sexual maturity suggest its potential as a marker for onset of testicular maturation. Female black, GOH and Sumatran rhinos secreted comparable AMH concentrations which were higher than those in white rhino. Within each species, inter-individual variation in AMH secretion occurred among females of similar age. While AMH secretion did not differ across the ages sampled for female white (4->26 yr) and GOH (4–26 yr) rhinos, black and Sumatran rhinos >26 and